“There’s still plenty of time for people who are interested in running for public office … to get in,” Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux said.

Although most county offices will close at 3 p.m. Monday for New Year’s, the elections office will stay open to 5 p.m., Lux said.

His office will be closed New Year’s Day, a federal holiday, and reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The deadline to qualify is noon Friday.

Twenty people already have pre-filed to run for various offices up for grabs in towns and cities across the county.

In the March 12 election, Fort Walton Beach voters will elect a mayor and four City Council members. Shalimar voters will elect a mayor and two town commissioners while Cinco Bayou residents will elect three Town Council members.

In Crestview, voters will elect a city clerk and three City Council members. Laurel Hill voters will elect a mayor and two City Council members.

Candidate hopefuls in Cinco Bayou, Fort Walton Beach and Shalimar can pickup qualifying packets at Lux’s office in the county Water and Sewer Administration Building at 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd.

Qualifying packets for the Crestview and Laurel Hill elections are available at the elections office in the Buddy Brackin Building at 302 Wilson St. N., Suite 102, in Crestview.

TO LEARN MORE: For more election information, go to www.govote-okaloosa.com.